The Tholians have always had little use for assault ships. The fact that their preferred environment is diametrically opposed to that of most sentient life they have rarely had to fight over the planets they consider prime real estate. Yet there have been some instances where the Tholians have perceived the need for planetary assaults by their own troops. In such cases the Assembly is usually searching for valuable technical or intelligence data that would be otherwise unattainable.

The Bloodstone Assault Cruiser was the preferred assault craft during the 23rd Century. A complex combination of two Barricade hulls, the Bloodstone can bring a considerable amount of firepower to bare in any arc. The ship is not capable of atmospheric insertion so instead relies on its combat transporters to beam marines to the planetary surface.